CNN) He's been living the dream alongside his heroes all week but teenager Cole Hammer looked like he was fighting back the tears on the opening tee of the U.S. Open Thursday.
At just 15 years, nine months and 21 days old, Hammer is the third-youngest player to ever qualify for the U.S. Open.
Only China's Andy Zhang, who was 14 when he played in 2012, and Tadd Fujikawa of Hawaii, who was 4 months younger than Hammer when he featured in 2006, have competed in the golf season's second major at a more youthful age.
And as the Texas amateur, who is still in high school, prepared to tee-off at the Chambers Bay course in Washington, it looked like the weight of occasion might be getting to him.
Hammer found the rough off his opening drive, but composed himself to miss out on a birdie by a matter of inches after a fantastic second shot.
He went on to card a seven-over-par 77, leaving him 12 shots off early afternoon joint-leaders Dustin Johnson and Henrik Stenson.
Yet it was his early emotions that caught the attention of many on social media, with the some showing their support with the #HammerTime hash-tag.
Hammer's age and positive attitude had already drawn attention from some of his more seasoned peers during practice earlier in the week.
Reigning U.S. Masters champion Jordan Spieth described him as "unbelievably nice" after practicing with him while Tiger Woods reportedly said the youngster 24-years his junior made him feel "very old."
Woods was once himself golf's hottest young thing himself, of course, but recent weeks have seen him card the some of the worst rounds of his professional career.
The 14-time major-winner was a late starter Thursday but had spoken of changes to his game earlier in the week that he hoped would bring a performance for the big occasion.
Elsewhere on the course, Phil Mickelson's quest to claim the only golf major missing from his collection started strongly.
The popular American strode into an early lead but faded with three bogeys after the turn to card a one-under par 69.
By comparison, Johnson only dropped a single shot all day, and that on the final hole, to card a five-under par- 65.
Stenson dropped two shots during the course of his round but carded seven birdies to Johnson's six.
Following a shot behind Johnson and Stenson after morning play is Patrick Reed while Matt Kuchar lies a further shot back at three-under par.
Bubba Watson is part of an early chasing pack a few shots back at level-par that also includes Sergio Garcia and Adam Scott.
Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy endured a frustrating opening round that finished with a two-over-par 72.
Other late starters still to finish at time of writing include Spieth, Rickie Fowler and Ernie Els.
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